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88-671: The area of Hirkan National Park is 99% covered by forests in a primarily mountainous region, and is strictly protected. It constitutes one of the largest contiguous forests in Azerbaijan, which is not interrupted by any settlement or pasture. The Hirkan National Park protects the humid subtropical and humid temperate forests in the area of the Lenkoran Lowland and the Talysh Mountains , sheltering many endemic plant and animal species . The ecosystem of

176-552: A Cfb / Cfa ( Oceanic climate / Humid subtropical climate ) borderline case. Western Georgia ( Batumi and Kutaisi ) in the Kolkheti Lowland and the northeast coast of Turkey ( Giresun ), have a climate similar to that of Gilan and Mazandaran in Iran and very similar to that of southeastern and northern Azerbaijan. Temperatures range from 22 °C (72 °F) in summer to 5 °C (41 °F) in winter and rainfall

264-734: A common ancestor in the laurel forests of the Mediterranean. Australia, isolated at an early period, has Ilex arnhemensis . Of 204 species growing in China, 149 species are endemic . A species which stands out for its economic importance in Spanish-speaking countries and in Brazil is Ilex paraguariensis or Yerba mate . Having evolved numerous species that are endemic to islands and small mountain ranges, and being highly useful plants, many hollies are now becoming rare. Often

352-500: A highly pronounced summer peak, unlike other regions of this climate type. Drought can be severe and often catastrophic to agriculture in the Cwa zone. The only area where winter precipitation equals or even exceeds the summer rain is around the San'in region at the western coast of Japan, which during winter is on the windward side of the westerlies. The winter precipitation in these regions

440-782: A humid subtropical climate with a distinctively high amount of rainfall during summer. In France, the climate is found in parts of the Garonne Valley (city of Toulouse ) and in the Rhône Valley , including the cities of Lyon and Valence . Due to climate change, some cities on the Balkan peninsula and in the Pannonian Basin such as Belgrade , Novi Sad , Niš and Budapest are now just warm enough to be categorized as such. At 48°N , Bratislava , in Slovakia , lies on

528-518: A humid subtropical climate, generally in the form of hot and humid summers, and mild to cool winters. These areas, which include the Pampas , generally feature a Cfa climate categorization. At 38°S , the Argentine city of Bahía Blanca lies on the southern limit of the humid subtropical zone. The Cwa climate occurs in parts of tropical highlands of São Paulo state , Mato Grosso do Sul and near

616-520: A mean temperature above 10 °C (50 °F). While many subtropical climates tend to be located at or near coastal locations, in some cases, they extend inland, most notably in China and the United States , where they exhibit more pronounced seasonal variations and sharper contrasts between summer and winter, as part of a gradient between the hotter tropical climates of the southern coasts and

704-465: A more humid July. This is followed by the cooler but still hot and extremely humid monsoon season (August-September), where the region experiences heavy rains almost daily, with humidity usually above 90%. The autumn season (October-November), which immediately follows the monsoon and precedes winter, usually experiences a pleasant climate. Cities such as New Delhi , Dehradun , Lucknow , Kanpur and Patna , among others, exhibit this atypical version of

792-516: A physical separation of the groups and beginning a process of change to adapt to new conditions. This mechanism is called allopatric speciation . Over time, survivor species of the holly genus adapted to different ecological niches. This led to reproductive isolation , an example of ecological speciation . In the Pliocene , around five million years ago, mountain formation diversified the landscape and provided new opportunities for speciation within

880-478: A result of these systems. As an example Lismore which lies in the centre of this zone, the annual rainfall can range from less than 550 millimetres (22 in) in 1915 to more than 2,780 millimetres (109 in) in 1950. As the continent does not have a large ocean to its east as the case in many other continents within the climate zone, humid subtropical climates in Europe are limited to relatively small areas on

968-491: A summer peak especially where storms reaching the level of monsoons are well developed, as in Southeast Asia and South Asia . Other areas have a more uniform or varying rainfall cycles but consistently lack any predictably dry summer months unlike Mediterranean climates (which lie at similar latitudes but, in most continents, on opposite coasts). Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms that build up due to

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1056-624: A surface area of 29,760 hectares (297.6 km), it was enlarged in 2008 to 40,358 hectares (403.58 km). The plain part of the Hirkan National Park ("Moscow Forest") lies within the Lankaran Lowland. The Moscow Forest is the only preserved part of the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests which covered most of the lowland, that was later cleared for agriculture. However, there is a reforestation program of

1144-453: A tendency toward dry conditions in winter with rain increasing in spring, with December or January often the driest months. Humid subtropical climates are found in a sizable portion of South America. The climate extends over a few states of southern Brazil, including Paraná , into sections of Paraguay , all of Uruguay and central Argentina (Pampas region). Major cities such as São Paulo , Buenos Aires , Porto Alegre and Montevideo , have

1232-538: A tropical savanna, or Aw , climate. Annual rainfall within Australia's humid subtropical climate zone can reach as high as 2,000 millimetres (79 in) in coastal locations and is generally 1,000 millimetres (39 in) or above. The most intense 2-3 day rainfall periods that occur in this coastal zone however are the outcome of east coast lows forming to the north of a large high pressure system , there can be great variation in rainfall amounts from year to year as

1320-774: Is a Class C invasive plant in Portland. Ilex in Latin means the holm-oak or evergreen oak ( Quercus ilex ). Despite the Linnaean classification of Ilex as holly, as late as the 19th century in Britain, the term Ilex was still being applied to the oak as well as the holly – possibly due to the superficial similarity of the leaves. The name "holly" in common speech refers to Ilex aquifolium , specifically stems with berries used in Christmas decoration. By extension, "holly"

1408-845: Is a genus of small, evergreen trees with smooth, glabrous, or pubescent branchlets . The plants are generally slow-growing with some species growing to 25 m (82 ft) tall. The type species is the European holly Ilex aquifolium described by Linnaeus. Plants in this genus have simple, alternate glossy leaves, frequently with a spiny leaf margin. The inconspicuous flower is greenish white, with four petals. They are generally dioecious , with male and female flowers on different plants. The small fruits of Ilex , although often referred to as berries , are technically drupes . They range in color from red to brown to black, and rarely green or yellow. The "bones" contain up to ten seeds each. Some species produce fruits parthenogenetically , such as

1496-758: Is also applied to the whole genus. The origin of the word "holly" is considered a reduced form of Old English hole(ġ)n , Middle English Holin , later Hollen . The French word for holly, houx , derives from the Old Low Franconian * hulis (Middle Dutch huls ). Both are related to Old High German hulis , huls , as are Low German / Low Franconian terms like Hülse or hulst . These Germanic words appear to be related to words for holly in Celtic languages , such as Welsh celyn , Breton kelen(n) and Irish cuileann . Several Romance languages use

1584-567: Is also found in the narrow coastal sections of southern and eastern South Africa , primarily in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape provinces. South Africa's version of this climate features heavy oceanic influences resulting in generally milder temperatures. This is particularly evident in its winters when temperatures do not drop as low as in many other regions within the humid subtropical category. In East Asia , this climate type

1672-452: Is also known as warm temperate climate in some climate classifications. Under the Köppen climate classification , Cfa and Cwa climates are either described as humid subtropical climates or warm temperate climates. This climate features mean temperature in the coldest month between 0 °C (32 °F) (or −3 °C (27 °F)) and 18 °C (64 °F) and mean temperature in

1760-642: Is even heavier than in Caspian Iran, up to 2,300 millimetres (91 in) per year in Hopa (Turkey). These climates are a Cfb / Cfa ( Oceanic climate / Humid subtropical climate ) borderline case. In North America, humid subtropical climates are found in the American Gulf and lower East Coast states, including Alabama , Arkansas , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Mississippi , North Carolina , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , and Texas . On

1848-477: Is found in the southeastern quarter of mainland China from Hong Kong north to Nanjing, the northern half of Taiwan , southern and central Japan ( Kyushu , Shikoku and half of Honshu ), and the most southern regions of Korea (the south and east Central and Southern Gyeongsang Province and Jeju island ). Cities near the equatorward boundary of this zone include Hong Kong and Taipei ; while Tokyo , Busan - Pohang - Gangneung of Korea and Qingdao are near

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1936-677: Is generally not as high here as in other continents within this climatic zone. The Po Valley , in Northern Italy , including major cities such as Milan , Turin , Bologna , and Verona , has a humid subtropical climate, featuring hot, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms; winters are foggy, damp and chilly, with sudden bursts of frost. Places along the shores of Lake Maggiore , Lake Lugano , Lake Como ( Como and Verbania in Italy and Lugano and Locarno in Switzerland ) have

2024-495: Is known about inter-species variation in constituents or toxicity of hollies. Holly berries are fermented and distilled to produce an eau de vie . Many of the holly species are widely used as ornamental plants in temperate/European gardens and parks, notably: Hollies are often used for hedges ; the spiny leaves make them difficult to penetrate, and they take well to pruning and shaping. Many hundreds of hybrids and cultivars have been developed for garden use, among them

2112-511: Is now extinct. Other large mammals here are the Caucasian leopard ( Panthera pardus tulliana ), lynx ( Lynx lynx ), brown bear ( Ursus arctos ), wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), wolf ( Canis lupus ), golden jackal ( Canis aureus ), jungle cat ( Felis chaus ), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), badger ( Meles meles ), otter ( Lutra lutra ), etc. The Caucasian leopard ( Panthera pardus tulliana ) subspecies of

2200-554: Is plentiful in North America's humid subtropical climate zone – but with significant variations in terms of wettest/driest months and seasons. Much of the interior South , including Tennessee, Kentucky, and the northern halves of Mississippi and Alabama, tends to have a winter or spring (not summer) precipitation maximum. Closer to the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, there is a summer maximum, with July or August usually

2288-479: Is reforested, it will become an additional part of the Hirkan National Park in the lowland. For the purpose of including the Hirkan National Park and the Caspian Hyrcanian (Girkan) forests respectively into UNESCO 's World Heritage Site list of cultural and natural heritage and Biosphere Reserves Programme, documents substantiated from the scientific point of view have been prepared and introduced to

2376-652: Is usually produced by low-pressure systems off the east coast that develop in the onshore flow from the Siberian high. Summer rainfall comes from the East Asian Monsoon and from frequent typhoons . Annual rainfall is generally over 1,000 millimetres (39 in), and in areas below the Himalayas can be much higher still. Humid subtropical climates can also be found in the Indian subcontinent , predominantly in

2464-464: Is usually three inches or less. However, for the majority of the winter here, temperatures remain above or well above freezing. At the northernmost limits of this zone, cities such as New York City , Philadelphia , Baltimore , Washington, D.C. , and Louisville typically see snowfall during the winter, with occasional heavy snowstorms. Still, average temperatures during a typical winter hover just above freezing at these locations. Precipitation

2552-459: Is widespread throughout the temperate and subtropical regions of the world. It includes species of trees, shrubs, and climbers, with evergreen or deciduous foliage and inconspicuous flowers. Its range was more extended in the Tertiary period and many species are adapted to laurel forest habitats. It occurs from sea level to more than 2,000 m (6,600 ft) with high mountain species. It

2640-453: The Andean highland in northwestern Argentina . These highland areas feature summer temperatures that are warm enough to fall outside the subtropical highland climate category. The humid subtropical climate zone predominantly lies in eastern Australia, which begins from the coastal strip of Mackay, Queensland and stretches down the coast to just south of Sydney , where it transitions into

2728-828: The Caucasus , in Azerbaijan and in Georgia wedged between the Caspian and Black seas and coastal ( Black Sea ) Turkey, albeit having more oceanic influence. Annual rainfall ranges from around 600 millimetres (24 in) at Gorgan to over 1,830 millimetres (72 in) at Bandar-e Anzali , and is heavy throughout the year, with a maximum in October or November when Bandar-e Anzali can average 330 millimetres (13 in) in one month. Temperatures are generally moderate in comparison with other parts of Western Asia. During winter,

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2816-455: The Holdridge life zones classification, the subtropical climates have a biotemperature between the frost or critical temperature line, 16 to 18 °C (61 to 64 °F) (depending on locations in the world) and 24 °C (75 °F), and these climates are humid (or even perhumid or superhumid) when the potential evapotranspiration (PET) ratio (= PET / Precipitation) is less than 1. In

2904-778: The Kashmir Valley in India, where the primary precipitation peak occurs in March, not July or August). Further east, in highland areas with lengthier monsoons such as Nepal, seasonal temperature variation is lower than in the lowlands. In Southeast Asia , about 90% of the region has a tropical climate ; but humid subtropical climates can also be seen here, such as in Northern Vietnam (including Hanoi ). Southeast Asian locations with these climates can feature cool temperatures, with lows reaching 10 °C (50 °F) during

2992-493: The family Aquifoliaceae , and the only living genus in that family. Ilex has the most species of any woody dioecious angiosperm genus. The species are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones worldwide. The type species is Ilex aquifolium , the common European holly used in Christmas decorations and cards. The genus Ilex is divided into three subgenera: The genus

3080-668: The humid continental zone due to colder winters. All these areas are subject to occasional, in some cases repeated snowfalls and freezes during winter. In Central Europe , a small area of humid subtropical climates are located in transitional areas between the oceanic and continental climates in areas where higher summer temperatures do not quite qualify it for inclusion in the Oceanic climate schema and mild winters do not allow their inclusion into continental climates. Average summer temperatures in areas of Europe with this climate are generally not as hot as most other subtropical zones around

3168-581: The leopard , lives in the southern regions in Azerbaijan, primarily in the Talysh Mountains, Nagorno-Karabakh and Nakhichevan . Despite occasional sightings, it was not clear whether leopards had been extinct in Azerbaijan by the late 1990s until a species was caught on camera in March, 2007 in the Hirkan National Park. The Hirkan National Park was established in 2004 on the basis of the Hirkan State Reserve which it superseded, on

3256-433: The tropical species are especially threatened by habitat destruction and overexploitation . At least two species of Ilex have become extinct recently, and many others are barely surviving. They are an extremely important food for numerous species of birds, and also are eaten by other wild animals. In the autumn and early winter the fruits are hard and apparently unpalatable. After being frozen or frosted several times,

3344-442: The European holly, Ilex aquifolium – is commonly referenced at Christmas time, and is often referred to by the name Christ's thorn . In many Western Christian cultures, holly is a traditional Christmas decoration , used especially in wreaths and illustrations, for instance on Christmas cards . Since medieval times the plant has carried a Christian symbolism , as expressed in the traditional Christmas carol " The Holly and

3432-576: The Florida peninsula, the humid subtropical climate gives way to the tropical climate of South Florida and the Florida Keys . Under Köppen's climate classification, this zone includes locations further north, primarily Virginia , Kentucky , the lower elevations of West Virginia , Maryland , Delaware , Washington, D.C. , southeastern Pennsylvania , central and southern portions of New Jersey , and Downstate New York . It can also be found in

3520-589: The Gulf of Mexico, such as Austin and San Antonio that border the semi-arid climate zone, generally see a peak of precipitation in May, a drought-like nadir in mid-summer and a secondary, if not equal, precipitation peak in September or October. Areas further south along South Texas ' Gulf Coast (Brownsville), which closely border tropical climate classification , typically have a strong September precipitation maximum, and

3608-455: The Hirkan National Park, belongs to the Caspian Hyrcanian (Girkan) mixed forests ecoregion , an area of lush deciduous broadleaved lowland and montane forests ( subtropical and temperate rainforests ) that completely cover the Talysh Mountains and partially cover the Lankaran Lowland. The Hirkan National Park normally has very high humidity and precipitation throughout the year, averaging from 1,400 mm to 1,600 mm per year in

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3696-478: The Holdridge classification, the humid subtropical climates coincide more or less with the warmest Cfa and Cwa climates and the less warm humid tropical "Köppen" climates ( Aw , Am and Af ). Cfa : C = Mild temperate f = Fully humid a = Hot Summer Cwa : C = Mild temperate w = Dry Winter a = Hot Summer In Africa, humid subtropical climates are primarily found in

3784-576: The Ivy ", in which the holly represents Jesus and the ivy represents the Virgin Mary . Angie Mostellar discusses the Christian use of holly at Christmas, stating that: Christians have identified a wealth of symbolism in its form. The sharpness of the leaves help to recall the crown of thorns worn by Jesus; the red berries serve as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for salvation ; and

3872-468: The Köppen, most of these locations would not be included in the humid subtropical grouping. The higher summer precipitation and poleward flow of tropical air-masses in summer are not present in Europe as they are in eastern Australia or the southern United States. Ilex About 570, see text Ilex ( / ˈ aɪ l ɛ k s / ) or holly is a genus of over 570 species of flowering plants in

3960-503: The Latin word acrifolium , literally "sharp leaf" (turned into aquifolium in modern time), hence Italian agrifoglio , Occitan grefuèlh , etc. The phylogeography of this group provides examples of various speciation mechanisms at work. In this scenario ancestors of this group became isolated from the remaining Ilex when the Earth mass broke away into Gondwana and Laurasia about 82   million years ago, resulting in

4048-594: The Nepalese version of the climate generally does not feature the extreme hot spells that are commonplace for many other South Asian locations with this climate. In Nepal cities such as Kathmandu , Pokhara , Butwal , Birgunj and Biratnagar feature this iteration of the climate. In South Asia, humid subtropical climates generally border on continental climates as altitude increases, or on winter-rainfall climates in western areas of Pakistan and northwestern India (e.g. Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan or Srinagar in

4136-744: The Sydney region ranges between 800 and 1,200 millimetres (31 and 47 in). There is usually a distinct summer rainfall maximum that becomes more pronounced moving northwards. In Brisbane, the wettest month (February) receives five times the rainfall of the driest month (September). Temperatures are very warm to hot but are not excessive: the average maximum in February is usually around 29 °C (84 °F) and in July around 21 °C (70 °F). Frosts are extremely rare except at higher elevations, but temperatures over 35 °C (95 °F) are not common on

4224-561: The UNESCO Secretariat. Humid subtropical A humid subtropical climate is a temperate climate type characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° and are located poleward from adjacent tropical climates, and equatorward from either humid continental (in North America and Asia) or oceanic climates (in other continents). It

4312-474: The area include the poet's laurel ( Danae racemosa ), Hyrcanian holly ( Ilex hyrcana ), greenbrier ( Smilax excelsa ), common ivy ( Hedera helix ), etc. There are several endemic subspecies of birds, of which the Caspian tit ( Poecile hyrcanus ) and the Caucasus pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus colchicus ) subspecies of the common pheasant of the Talysh Mountains are common. The Caspian tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris ) once roamed these mountains, but

4400-553: The bright red berries. Ingestion of over 20 berries may be fatal to children. Holly leaves, if eaten, might cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach and intestinal problems. Holly plants might be toxic to pets and livestock. Leaves of some holly species are used by some cultures to make daily tea. These species are Yerba mate ( I. paraguariensis ), Ilex guayusa , Kuding ( Ilex kaushue ), Yaupon ( I. vomitoria ) and others. Leaves of other species, such as gallberry ( I. glabra ) are bitter and emetic. In general little

4488-464: The climate in India. In Pakistan, the cities of Islamabad , Sialkot , Gujranwala and Rawalpindi , among others, feature this weather pattern. Lahore overlaps between being humid subtropical and semi-arid . The annual precipitation in Peshawar is slightly less than required for this classification. In Bangladesh , cities like Rangpur , Saidpur and Dinajpur in the northern region feature

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4576-589: The coast. North of the Cfa climate zone there is a zone centred upon Rockhampton which extends north to the Köppen Cwa classified climate zone of the Atherton Tablelands region. This region has a very pronounced dry winter period, with often negligible rainfall between June and October. Winter temperatures generally only fall slightly below 18 °C (64 °F), which would classify the region as

4664-553: The coastal areas can receive snowfall, which is usually of a short duration. In Rasht , the average temperature in July and August is around 25 °C (77 °F) but with near-saturation humidity , whilst in January and February it is around 7 °C (45 °F). The heavy, evenly distributed rainfall extends north into the Caspian coastal strip of Azerbaijan up to its northern border but this climate in Azerbaijan is, however,

4752-537: The colder continental climates to the north and further inland. As such, the climate can be said to exhibit somewhat different features depending on whether it is found inland, or in a maritime position. In a humid subtropical climate, summers are typically long, hot and humid. A deep current of tropical air dominates the humid subtropics at the time of high sun, and daily intense (but brief) convective thundershowers are common. Monthly mean temperatures in winter may be mild or slightly above freezing. Rainfall often shows

4840-557: The coldest limit of climates classed as humid subtropical. Snowfall varies greatly in this climate zone. In locations at the southern limits of this zone and areas around the Gulf Coast , cities such as Orlando , Tampa , Houston , New Orleans , and Savannah rarely see snowfall, which occurs, at most, a few times per generation. In Southern cities farther north or inland, such as Atlanta , Charlotte , Dallas , Memphis , Nashville , and Raleigh , snow only occasionally falls and

4928-499: The cooler, oceanic climates. From Newcastle , approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) northeast of Sydney, the Cfa zone would extend to inland New South Wales , excluding the highland regions (which have an oceanic climate), stretching towards Dubbo to the northwest and Wagga Wagga to the south, ending at the New South Wales / Victoria border ( Albury-Wodonga ). To note, these places would have characteristics of

5016-469: The cultivar 'Nellie R. Stevens'. The fruits ripen in winter and thus provide winter colour contrast between the bright red of the fruits and the glossy green evergreen leaves. Hence the cut branches, especially of I. aquifolium , are widely used in Christmas decoration. The fruits are generally slightly toxic to humans, and can cause vomiting and diarrhea when ingested. However, they are a food source for certain birds and other animals, which help disperse

5104-421: The engrailed ( Ectropis crepuscularia ). Holly can contain caffeic acid , caffeoyl derivatives, caffeoylshikimic acid , chlorogenic acid , feruloylquinic acid , quercetin , quinic acid , kaempferol , tannins , rutin , caffeine , theobromine , and ilicin . Holly berries can cause vomiting and diarrhea. They are especially dangerous in cases involving accidental consumption by children attracted to

5192-611: The extant species probably appeared during the Eocene , about 50   million years ago, suggesting that older representatives of the genus belong to now extinct branches. Ilex sinica seems to be the most basal extant species. The laurel forest covered great areas of the Earth during the Paleogene , when the genus was more prosperous. This type of forest extended during the Neogene , more than 20   million years ago. Most of

5280-427: The fruits soften, and become milder in taste. During winter storms , birds often take refuge in hollies, which provide shelter, protection from predators (by the spiny leaves), and food . The flowers are sometimes eaten by the larva of the double-striped pug moth ( Gymnoscelis rufifasciata ). Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on holly include Bucculatrix ilecella , which feeds exclusively on hollies, and

5368-687: The genus. The fossil record indicates that the Ilex lineage was already widespread prior to the end of the Cretaceous period; the earliest records of the distinctive pollen of Ilex are from the Turonian of the Otway Basin of Australia . The earliest fossil holly fruit is known from the Maastrichtian of central Europe . Based on the molecular clock , the common ancestor of most of

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5456-449: The high elevations of Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and Sierra Madre Oriental. Despite being located at higher elevations, these locations have summers that are too warm to qualify as a subtropical highland climate. Guadalajara 's climate is a major example of this. Outside of isolated sections of Mexico, the southernmost limits of this climate zone in North America lie just north of South Florida and around southern coastal Texas. Cities at

5544-432: The intense surface heating and strong subtropical sun angle. Weak tropical lows that move in from adjacent warm tropical oceans, as well as occasional tropical cyclones often contribute to summer seasonal rainfall peaks. Winter rainfall (and occasional snowfall, especially near the poleward margins) is often associated with large storms in the westerlies that have fronts that reach down into subtropical latitudes. Under

5632-481: The last remaining temperate broadleaf evergreen forests are believed to have disappeared about 10,000 years ago at the end of the Pleistocene . Many of the then-existing species with the strictest ecological requirements became extinct because they could not cross the barriers imposed by the geography, but others found refuge as a species relict in coastal enclaves, archipelagos, and coastal mountains sufficiently far from areas of extreme cold and aridity and protected by

5720-404: The lower Midwest, primarily in the central and southern portions of Kansas and Missouri and the southern portions of Illinois , Indiana and Ohio . In Mexico , there are small areas of Cfa and Cwa climates. The climate can be found in small areas scattered around the northeastern part of the country, in proximity to the Gulf of Mexico . Other areas where the climate can be found is in

5808-399: The lowland, on a designated non-forested lot which is the only non-cultivated land on the plain, in order to (partially because the Lankaran Lowland is far too valuable for its agricultural productivity for Azerbaijan, to be given up for reforestation) restore the ecology to its previous forested state. This lot will become the second forest in the lowland after the Moscow Forest and once it

5896-410: The lowlands to 1,800 mm per year in the mountains. The maximum annual precipitation is the highest precipitation in Azerbaijan. The Hirkan National Park has a humid subtropical climate in the lowlands, an oceanic climate in the middle elevations and a humid continental climate on the mountain peaks. The variety of elevations, the abundant rainfall, and the presence of old growth forests give

5984-426: The margins of the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins. Cfa zones are generally transitional between the Mediterranean climate zones along the coast and oceanic and humid continental zones to the west and north where rainfall in the warmer months is too high for a Mediterranean classification, while temperatures (either in the summer and/or winter) are too warm to qualify as oceanic or humid continental. Summer humidity

6072-435: The monsoon variant ( Cwa ), where rainfall peaks at the monsoon season. Closely resembling the climate patterns of neighboring Northern Indian plains , this region shows a distinct three season pattern- relatively dry and very hot summer (March- early June), extremely wet, cooler Monsoon season (June- September), and mild, foggy winter (Late October- February). Humid subtropical climates can also be found in Nepal . However,

6160-406: The months of December, January, and February. Unlike a good portion of East Asian locations with this climate however, most of Southeast Asia seldom experiences snowfall. These areas tend to feature hot and humid summers and cool and wet winters , with mean temperatures varying between 25 and 30 °C (77 and 86 °F) in summer. Although humid subtropical climates in Asia are mostly confined to

6248-482: The north-east of Spain ( Huesca ), West Macedonia in Greece ( Kozani ). Along the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria ( Varna ), coast of Romania ( Constanța and Mamaia ), Sochi, Russia and Crimea , have summers too warm (>22 °C (72 °F) mean temperature in the warmest month) to qualify as oceanic, no freezing month, and enough summer precipitation and sometimes humid conditions, where they would be fit to be classed under Cfa , though they closely border

6336-662: The northern boundary. The influence of the strong Siberian anticyclone in East Asia brings colder winter temperatures than in the humid subtropical zones in South America, and Australia. The 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm reaches as far south as the valleys of the Yellow and Wei rivers, roughly latitude 34° N . At Hainan Island and in Taiwan, the climate transitions from subtropical into tropical. In most of this region,

6424-726: The northern limit of the humid subtropical zone. The coastal areas in the northern half of the Adriatic Sea also fall within this climate zone. The cities include Trieste , Venice , and Rimini in Italy , Rijeka and Split in Croatia , Koper in Slovenia and Kotor in Montenegro . Other Southern European areas in the Cfa zone include the central valleys and coast of Catalonia of Girona and Barcelona in Spain , some on

6512-887: The northern regions. However, the humid subtropical climates exhibited here typically differ markedly from those in East Asia (and, for that matter, a good portion of the globe). Winters are typically cool to mild (sometimes reaching 0 °C (32 °F)), ranging from humid and foggy in December to dry in February. These winters are followed by a mild spring (March-April). Summers tend to be relatively longer and very hot, starting from mid-April and peaking in June, extending up to July with high temperatures often exceeding 40 °C (104 °F). Summers usually begin dry, complete with dust storms , traits typically associated with arid or semi-arid climates , before eventually transforming into

6600-466: The oceanic influence. The genus is distributed throughout the world's different climates. Most species make their home in the tropics and subtropics , with a worldwide distribution in temperate zones . The greatest diversity of species is found in the Americas and in Southeast Asia. Ilex mucronata , formerly the type species of Nemopanthus , is native to eastern North America. Nemopanthus

6688-1591: The park an unusual richness of biota . This area preserves many endemic plants species, relicts of the Tertiary period which were not affected by Pliocene and Pleistocene glaciations . The Caspian Hyrcanian (Girkan) forests account for 150 endemic species of trees and bushes out of 435 species of trees and bushes. Some endemic tree species are, the Hyrcanian box tree ( Buxus hyrcana ), Caucasian pear ( Pyrus communis subsp. caucasica ), Lenkoran acacia ( Albizia julibrissin ), chestnut-leaved oak ( Quercus castaneifolia ), Caucasian oak ( Quercus macranthera ), Caucasian ash ( Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa ), European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ), European hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ), Oriental hornbeam ( Carpinus orientalis ), Oriental beech ( Fagus orientalis ), Caucasian persimmon ( Diospyros lotus ), Caspian locust tree ( Gleditsia caspica ), Caucasian alder ( Alnus subcordata ), black alder ( Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata ), white poplar ( Populus alba ) Caucasian wingnut ( Pterocarya fraxinifolia ), Persian ironwood ( Parrotia persica ), Caucasian zelkova ( Zelkova carpinifolia ), butcher's broom ( Ruscus aculeatus ), velvet maple ( Acer velutinum ), Cappadocian maple ( Acer cappadocicum ), wych elm ( Ulmus glabra ), Caucasian lime tree ( Tilia dasystyla subsp. caucasica ), wild cherry ( Prunus avium ), wild service tree ( Sorbus torminalis ), sweet chestnut ( Castanea sativa ), among many others. Shrub species occurring in

6776-507: The seeds. Unfortunately this can have negative impacts as well. Along the west coast of North America, from California to British Columbia , English holly ( Ilex aquifolium ), which is grown commercially, is quickly spreading into native forest habitat, where it thrives in shade and crowds out native species. It has been placed on the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board's monitor list, and

6864-457: The semi-arid and/or Mediterranean climates. Furthermore, the inland Cfa climates generally have drier summers, or at least summers with low humidity. Extreme heat is more often experienced in Sydney than in other large cities in Australia's Cfa zone, especially in the western suburbs , where highs over 40 °C (104 °F) are not uncommon. Frost is prevalent in the more inland areas of Sydney, such as Richmond . Average annual rainfall in

6952-522: The shape of the leaves, which resemble flames, can serve to reveal God's burning love for His people. Combined with the fact that holly maintains its bright colors during the Christmas season , it naturally came to be associated with the Christian holiday. In heraldry , holly is used to symbolize truth. The Norwegian municipality of Stord has a yellow twig of holly in its Coat-of-arms. The Druids held that "leaves of holly offered protection against evil spirits" and thus "wore holly in their hair". In

7040-547: The southeastern quarter of the continent, there are two narrow areas along the coast of the Caspian Sea and Black Sea with humid subtropical climates. Summers in these locations are cooler than typical humid subtropical climates and snowfall in winter is relatively common, but is usually of a short duration. In Western Asia , the climate is prevalent in the Gilan , Māzandarān and Golestan Provinces of Iran , in parts of

7128-628: The southern part of the continent. The Cwa climate is found over a large portion of the interior of the Middle and Eastern African regions. This area includes central Angola , northeastern Zimbabwe , the Niassa , Manica and Tete provinces of Mozambique , the southern Congo provinces, southwest Tanzania , and the majority of Malawi , and Zambia . Some lower portions of the Ethiopian Highlands also have this climate. The climate

7216-483: The southernmost limits, such as Tampa and Orlando and along the Texas coast around Corpus Christi down toward Brownsville generally feature warm weather year-round and minimal temperature differences between seasons. In contrast, cities at the northernmost limits of the climate zone such as New York, Philadelphia and Louisville feature hot, humid summers and chilly winters. These areas have average winter temperatures at

7304-529: The very popular " Highclere holly", Ilex × altaclerensis ( I. aquifolium × I. perado ) and the "blue holly", Ilex × meserveae ( I. aquifolium × I. rugosa ). The cultivars I. × meserveae Blue Prince = 'Conablu' and Blue Princess = 'Conapri' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit . Another hybrid is Ilex × koehneana , with the cultivar 'Chestnut Leaf'. Holly – more specifically

7392-471: The warmest month 22 °C (72 °F) or higher. However, while some climatologists have opted to describe this climate type as a "humid subtropical climate", Köppen himself never used this term. The humid subtropical climate classification was officially created under the Trewartha climate classification . In this classification, climates are termed humid subtropical when they have at least 8 months with

7480-696: The wettest month – such as in Jacksonville , Charleston , Mobile , New Orleans, and Virginia Beach. A semblance of a monsoon pattern (dry winters/wet summers) is evident along the Atlantic coast from the Chesapeake Bay region and the Outer Banks south to Florida. The seasonal monsoon is much stronger on the Florida peninsula, as most locations in Florida have dry winters and wet summers. In addition, areas in Texas that are slightly inland from

7568-537: The winter monsoon is very well developed, as such eastern Asian humid subtropical zones have a strong winter dry season and heavy summer rainfall. Only in inland areas below the Yangtze River and coastal areas between approximately the Huai River and the beginning of the coast of Guangdong is there sufficient winter rainfall to produce a Cfa climate; even in these areas, rainfall and streamflow display

7656-627: The world. Urban examples include Bratislava , Budapest , and the Innere Stadt of Vienna . In the Azores , some islands have this climate, with very mild and rainy winters (>13 °C (55 °F)) and no snowfall, warm summers (>21 °C (70 °F)) but with no dry season during the warmest period, which means that they can neither be classified as oceanic , nor as Mediterranean , only as humid subtropical, as with Corvo Island . In many other climate classification systems outside of

7744-423: Was treated as a separate genus with eight species. of the family Aquifoliaceae , now transferred to Ilex on molecular data; it is closely related to Ilex amelanchier . In Europe the genus is represented by a single species, the classically named holly Ilex aquifolium , and in continental Africa by this species and Ilex mitis . Ilex canariensis , from Macaronesia , and Ilex aquifolium arose from

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